Shark Dissection Lab
Name: ____________________________________
Date: ______________________
Overview
In this lab you will dissect a shark named the Dogfish Shark. You will perform this
dissection so that you can gain a better understanding of the internal structures
and processes of the shark in order to compare it to what you have learned
about the human body systems.
Materials
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a large dissection tray
surgical scissors
scalpel
probe
forceps
gloves
goggles
Pre-Lab Questions
1) How will you make sure you are handling your dissection tools safely?
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2) What should you do if you feel uncomfortable at any point during the
lab?
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3) Why is it important that we keep our voice level down as we work on the
dissection?
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4) What is the purpose of this lab today?
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Shark Dissection Lab
Procedure/ Observations/ Analysis
STEP 1 Getting to know your shark
□ Touch the shark! Pick it up, squeeze it, feel it! Slowly and carefully run your
hand along the shark's body, from head to tail. Notice the difference in
texture. The roughness that you feel is the shark’s scales.
Part of shark
Description
Shark’s skin
1)
Does it feel like the shark has hard bones similar to the bones that
humans have? Explain.
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STEP 2 External Anatomy
Use the diagram below to help you locate the following structures. Once you
have located it put a check next in the box.
□ External Nares – These are a pair of openings (nostrils) on each side of
the head, in front of the eyes. Water is taken into the smaller of the two
openings and expelled through the larger opening. The water passes by
a sensory membrane allowing the shark to detect chemicals in the
water.
□ Spiracles – These are small openings behind the eyes. These openings
allow water to pass through the gills even when the shark’s mouth is
closed.
□ Mouth – Although the eating function is evident, the mouth is also used
for the intake of water that passes through the gills.
□ Gill Slits – Five vertical slits which allow water to exit after passing over the
gills. They are located behind; the mouth.
□ Lateral Line – A pale line that extends noticeably from the side fin
(pectoral fin) fin past the stomach fin (pelvic fin). This line is actually a
group of small pores which open into the underlying lateral line canal, a
sensory organ that detects water movements.
Shark Dissection Lab
□ Cloaca – This is the exit from the digestive tract. The cloaca lies between
the stomach (pelvic) fins.
□ Fins – Refer to Figure 1 and familiarize yourself with each fin and its name.
□ Rostrum – This is the pointed snout at the front end of the head.
□ Dorsal Spines – Just in front of each top fin (dorsal fin)is a spine that is
used defensively by the shark. Each spine has a poison gland associated
with it.
Write down one thing you noticed about the Shark’s skin or external
features.
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STEP 3: Skeletal system. Unlike the other ‘higher vertebrates’ (fish, reptiles,
birds, etc.) the shark does not have a bony skeleton but instead has a skeleton
composed of cartilage.
□ Look at figure 2 which shows a side view of the entire shark skeleton and
familiarize yourself with the parts outlined within this figure.
Shark Dissection Lab
How is the shark’s skeletal system different than a human’s skeletal system?
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STEP 4: Muscular System
□ Place your shark stomach down to begin. You will need to flip the shark
over after step one to complete this section.
□ Remove each of the dorsal spines by cutting where it meets the body.
(This will prevent you from stabbing yourself unintentionally).
□ Flip your shark over onto its back.
Be sure to refer to the diagram as you begin cutting into the skin.
□ Make an incision on the shark’s stomach from the cloaca to just below the
jaw/mouth. Make your incision shallow (not deep)
□ Cut around the head, around each fin, around the spircles, and around
the cloaca.
□ From the cloaca cut a circle around the back of the shark – this will make
a circle around the tail. Remember you are cutting through the skin only.
□ Using the handles of your scissors or your gloved fingers carefully peel off
the skin to expose the muscles.
□ Compare your specimen with Figure 3 and Figure 4 on the next page.
□ Try to identify as many of the structures listed as possible.
Shark Dissection Lab
Shark Dissection Lab
What is one thing that surprised you when you looked at the different muscles in
the shark?
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Compare and Contrast the muscles of the shark to the muscle of the chicken
wing we dissected earlier in the year.
STEP 5: Digestive System
□ Place your shark stomach side up on the dissection tray.
□ Using scissors – blunt tip inside the shark – cut through the muscle tissue.
Some cuts may be difficult. Ask if you need help. Use the video to guide
you.
□ You may pin the flaps of muscle tissue if you would like.
Shark Dissection Lab
Use the diagram on the next page to help you identify the different digestive
organs you see. Record your observations in the chart below.
Digestive Organ
Function
Esophagus
Connects the
mouth to the
stomach
Stomach
Duodenum
(part of small
intestine)
Begins to break
down food
Continues to break
down the food and
absorb the nutrients
Description
Drawing
Shark Dissection Lab
Liver
Secretes bile to
help break down
food.
Gall Bladder
Stores the bile
Pancreas
Creates enzymes
used for digestion.
Spiral Intestine
(small intestine)
Rectum
Absorbs the
nutrients from the
food
Stores solid waste
before it is
eliminated from the
shark
STEP 6: Circulatory System
□ Lift the flaps over the area of the heart and pin them where they stay out
of the way. It may be necessary to cut some tissue that may be attached
to the heart.
Draw a picture of the outside of the shark’s heart below.
Shark Dissection Lab
□ Cut open the heart to get a look at the different chambers.
Draw a picture of the inside of the shark’s heart below.
How is the shark’s heart similar and how is it different than a human heart?
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STEP 6: BONUS: Nervous System AKA THE BRAIN
□ Remove the skin from the back section of the head.
□ With your scalpel, carefully shave the chondocranium (shark’s cranium)
down to expose the brain, the olfactory lobes, and the major brain nerves.
Shave off thin sections so that you don’t cut into the brain or nerves.
□ Remove chips of cartilage with forceps. Remove the chondocranium
from the tip of the rostrum back to the gill slits
STEP 7: Clean-Up
□ Place all parts of organism that may have been removed into your
dissection tray.
□ When the teacher comes around place all parts and the organism into
the bin.
□ Using a wet paper towel carefully wipe off your dissection tools and the
tray.
□ Place all clean materials into the dissection tray.
Shark Dissection Lab
Dissection Reflection Questions
1) What organ systems did you observe today?
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2) What were some similarities between the shark’s organ systems and the
human organ systems?
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3) What were some differences that you noticed between the shark’s organ
systems and a human’s organ systems?
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4) What were some things that surprised you today when you dissected the
shark?
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5) Did you enjoy this lab? Why or why not?
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